Hinged Lid Closure With Support Area For Controlled Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing closures with pivotable hinged lids often require high opening forces to overcome latching forces, leading to unintentional liquid spillage due to sudden jolts during opening, making controlled one-handed operation difficult.

Innovation Solution

A closure design featuring a support area on the hinged lid with a constriction or indentation for secure finger placement, providing a counteracting force that stabilizes the opening process, combined with a snap-in connection for controlled force application, and an asymmetric design for ergonomic finger positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a latching connection is provided to hold the hinged lid in the closed position with high latching force, then the hinged lid does not open unintentionally, but the opening force required to overcome the latching force becomes too high, causing sudden jolts and liquid spillage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of unintentional openingVSAvoidcontrolled opening operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A support area is introduced as an intermediary element on the hinged lid, positioned closer to the pivot axis than the pressure application area. This support area allows a second finger to apply a counteracting force that mediates between the opening force and the latching force, enabling controlled opening without sudden jolts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support area provides a location for applying a counteracting force that balances the latching force during the opening process. By positioning this counterforce closer to the pivot axis, the user can control the opening motion smoothly without the sudden release that causes liquid spillage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Ease of operation

If the pressure application area is positioned far from the pivot axis to reduce opening force, then easier opening is achieved, but the lever arm for the counteracting force becomes insufficient to stabilize the opening process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening force requirementVSAvoidstability of opening process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The solution introduces a second dimension of force application by adding the support area at a different position along the hinged lid. This creates a two-point force system (pressure application area and support area) that provides both leverage and stability, rather than relying on a single pressure point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables controlled and stable opening of the hinged lid with reduced risk of liquid spillage, allowing for effective one-handed operation even with high latching forces.

Implementation Method 1

a hinged lid (2) that is connected to the base part (3) so that it can pivot about a pivot axis (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

If a counterforce acts on the support area, the hinged lid can be opened by an opening force due to the greater distance or lever of the pressure exertion area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever principle: Lever

Implementation Method 3

a snap-in connection is provided between the hinged cover and the base part, which holds the hinged cover in the closed position with a snap-in force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSnap-in connection: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3083428B1Closure for a container
Publication Date: 2017.09.13 HENKEL KGAA
  • EP3083428B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3083428B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3083428B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a closure (1) which is intended for a container (16) and comprises a base part (3), which can be fastened on the container (16), and a hinged lid (2), which is connected to the base part (3) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (5), closes a closure opening of the base part (3) in a closure position and has a lid roof (6) bounded by a periphery (7), wherein the hinged lid (2) has a pressure-exerting region (14) in the front part, so that the hinged lid (2) can be pushed out of the closure position by a certain amount of opening force (Fo) being applied by a finger. The closure according to the invention is distinguished in that a supporting region (17) is defined in a rear part of the hinged lid (2), this supporting region establishing the position for another finger, by means of which the hinged lid (2) can be subjected to a counter-force (FG), acting substantially in the direction counter to the opening force (Fo).